Christian Peregin
'Mature and courageous U-turn'
The graveyard at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's surprise announcement that the controversial project to extend the underground museum of St John's Co-Cathedral should be scrapped, was greeted with joy by many of those who opposed the plans.
Leading environmental pressure group and a major critic of the project, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, had decided to present MPs walking into Parliament with a petition signed by over 1,500 people.
Despite the announcement, tens of FAA members still handed their petition to MPs walking in for the debate, stressing that, while they were satisfied with the decision, there was still the opera house site to be discussed.
In fact, the petition also criticised the government's proposal to house Parliament at the former opera house site and made the case for a national theatre to be built instead.
"This is a U-turn which shows courage and maturity. And I hope it signals the beginning of a new and more mature era in politics which is less partisan and more focused on citizen participation," a victorious Astrid Vella, coordinator of FAA, said.
She said she hoped a similar decision would be taken on the opera house site. Ms Vella thanked all those who supported the FAA's petition, not least the politicians who spoke out against the project.
"Labour played a critical role in this issue. We were very impressed with Joseph Muscat and his keen and personal interest in this issue."
When asked what would happen to the €14 million EU funds, Ms Vella said that, according to research conducted by the FAA, the funds could be rerouted, although this would be a bureaucratic process.
"I am delighted for Malta and the world because St John's is not just a Maltese landmark but a world heritage treasure that has now been saved from the danger to which it had been posed."
Minutes after the joint statement by Dr Gonzi and the Archbishop, the St John's Foundation issued a terse reply saying it agreed with the decision to drop the project.
When contacted, foundation president Mgr Philip Calleja only said that the decision was reached after consultation and that he was "happy with the result".
When asked if he should resign after having spearheaded the project and defended it tooth and nail despite heavy criticism from almost everyone else, he said: "No, no".
As he was walking into Parliament, Dr Gonzi told the press he had consulted the Archbishop and they agreed to end the controversy.
"I would have preferred to go through the normal processes but I realised that, especially in the current economic climate, our country needed to focus on things that affect Maltese families and not have the population divided over this issue," Dr Gonzi said.
The project had drawn widespread criticism, even from government MPs Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Jesmond Mugliett and Ninu Zammit.
When contacted, Dr Pullicino Orlando said he welcomed the decision.
"I greet this development with satisfaction and peace of mind. I have been expressing my opposition and concern about this project since November and I therefore welcome the decision which has been taken," he said.
The decision was also welcomed by Alternattiva Demokratika.
"The St John's Cathedral Foundation should now identify an appropriate building in some other part of Malta and set up a museum entirely and solely dedicated to the 29 Goblin tapestries," it said.
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f.lia
Feb 13th 2009, 10:14
So the result of this decision is Gonzi gets to remain PM Joe Muscat can sing victory in this issue at least The people get to keep their square in front of St. John. So what's the fuss all about? Everyone seems happy with the results so stop squabbling and get on with your lives guys.
Mike Magri
Feb 13th 2009, 09:23
..@..Franco Farrugia... With all due rispect... I guess the only ones that are really `Dreamers` on this subject are people like you, Mr. Farrugia, and in so doing, you are trying your hearts out to invent and immagining all kinds of `fairy tails` in order to smooth down the ADVERSE political impact, this GonziPN U-Turn had had on his government and on the PN in general. Now, as far as the PL is concerned, the party had stayed out of it in the beginning of this controvercy, so that NO ONE can accuse it of political interferance. BUT, as soon as the picture kept comming politically clearer, and was reveiled that Richard Cachia Caruana, (a person with NO popular votings behind him), was `Il-Percimes` behind all this, then of course the picture started taking another aspect... i.e. Political Involvement by RCC...!!!! Then it was THE SACROSANT DUTY of the Opposition to stop listening and START ACTIONING.. Now as far as the voting on the motion, i can only say this simple question....:- IF THE GonziPN GOVERNMENT HAD NO ABSOLUTE FEAR OF THE OUTCOME OF THIS MOTION, WHY.. WHY.. WHY.. DID THE PRIME MINISTER DROPPED IT...?????!!!!!?????!!!!!!! Happy Excuses Guys........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lgalea
Feb 13th 2009, 08:38
Astrid Vella
You should by now have understood that Martinelli sees nothing wrong with whatever Gonezipn does and that whatever everyone else thinks is wrong.
Astrid Vella
Feb 13th 2009, 00:17
@Martinelli: I find it hard to believe that by now you have not read the quote from the MEPA Directorate "this project is a non-starter because no remedial measures can guarantee that the stability of the Cathedral's foundations will not be affected"
Besides that, the Cathedral is a Grade 1 Scheduled monument, ie. NO STRUCTURAL CHANGES CAN BE MADE. ie. none of the lift shafts or new corridors that were proposed to be excavated under the Cathedral. Carrying out studies on such changes, as proposed by you and the Foundation propose, means that you are advocating breaking the law. Are you seriously suggesting the Maltese taxpayer should fund a 150,000 Environment Impact Assessment to justify breaking the law?
Astrid Vella
Feb 13th 2009, 00:07
@Jurgen Berlin:Peter Gatt, the highly respected geologist reported:
"If during excavation exposes a sizeable joint oriented in a particular direction,an entire wedge of rock may fail,causing catastrophic damage to the Cathedral.There have been several instances when this happened in Malta,e.g.during excavation of Sliema car park,in Bugibba, when a woman died buried under rubble etc
Globigerina Limestone is a soft rock and may deform in a brittle as well as ductile manner. Even if we are spared mass failure, creating a void will alter stresses in the rock and cause slow deformation which will increase damage to the Cathedral structure in the form of tension cracks(kunsenturi)in the church.This may ruin Mattia Preti's vault paintings.
The excavation will alter the local hydrology ie. pathways taken by rain water in rock and may result in a localised temporary build up of water along the walls of the completed(damp sealed)underground structure.This increase in humidity will be disastrous for the Cathedral, causing increased salt crystallisation.
If that is not concrete enough I will gladly email you the rest, but I think most will agree that it proves this was not a case of "scare-mongering by certain environmentalists and pseudo experts?"
Franco Farrugia
Feb 12th 2009, 18:22
@ Mike Magri - Since August 2008, when the saga of this proposed project was known, only a few individuals, which you can count on one hand, started to write and speak about it. Other than FAA, there was myself, the undersigned, a a very few others, if at all!
So, let that be a started.
When, a few days ago, the PL started interesting itself in the subject because it was smelling a political issue in it, many started harping about this project without fully knowing its consequences.
As long as the Maltese have a political figure to follow, they're happy, the idiots! They can never think or take action on their own steam!
So, it's stupid and futile to try and make others believe that the Nationalist administration could have ever been in danger of collapsing with a vote like this.
I call it - wishful thinking!
The Nationalists would have NEVER voted against each other.
And even if they did, the vote would not have been considered an important one which would have brought the Government down.
Once again, wishful thinking!
Dream harder.
J Martinelli
Feb 12th 2009, 18:02
@ Charles Sammut
Before you comment you should first read calmly, then understand what I really meant and then, if you still have difficulty with what I wrote, comment.
By 'due process' I meant the processing of a formal application through MEPA, an independent EIA, and various engineering reports which are normally done before the project is even approved.
If the NGOs and others opposing the project were right, i.e. the project would have endangered the cathedral, then obviously it would have stopped there. But now, we will never know, will we?
If the NGOs had some doubts that they were wrong and sufficient guarantees were forthcoming that the construction would in no way endanger the cathedral, then they have now scuttled a worthwhile project.
Either way, the public has lost. We have learned nothing new and we may have lost an opportunity to build a unique museum which would have housed the priceless tapestries which are being restored at great cost.
But then, we are all experts, qualified or not, but we certainly do not trust those who are qualified but happen to differ in opinion.
What has immigration to do with St. John's?
But then, c'est la vie.
g.sinagra
Feb 12th 2009, 17:10
so the PN is a coalition minority party after all.After this U turn there must more.
Mario Zammit
Feb 12th 2009, 17:04
I hope the Prime Minister sees the light of day and starts thinking up measures that do the nation good while at the same time being popular with the ordinary man in the street.
Since taking the helm of the Party he has aliented the rank and file with his soulless measures: not honouring collective agreements by withholding public holidays falling on Sats and Sundays being added to leave, implementing skyrocketing water and electricity rates when the price of oil was tumbling down (thereby masterminding a senseless fear in spending), the St John Co Cathedral debacle, the golf course fiasco etc.
Dr Gonzi you can never even imagine measuring up to your predecessor Dr Eddie Fenech Adami who had the savoir faire of introducing popular measures that brought about a boom in the economy. It was such a big mistake to choose you as PN leader.
James De Giorgio
Feb 12th 2009, 16:44
It's good to change course when one realizes his error. To all those STILL criticising the prime minister and now mocking him because of the "U turn", let me remind them that they in all probability voted for Alfred Sant who despite knowing he was wrong insisted in freezing the application for the EU, then embarking on a non-existant partnership programme, persisting in his errors by then declaring a victory for partnership, then being trounced at the election and yet he insisted till the end that he had "no regrets".
Lest we forget
Charles Sammut
Feb 12th 2009, 16:43
@ J Martinelli
"While those opposing the St. John project may have been correct, it would have been much wiser to let the process continue until it produced a verdict."
No! the people did not want the process to continue further.
Why? Because the people do not have faith in "the process".
Likewise, saying "I told you so." is no use after the damage is done. People have been saying that illegal immigration will destroy Malta. They have been proved right. So do you think they are happy to trumpet, "I told you so."
Stop being a PN apologist and stick to the truth.
M.Buhagiar
Feb 12th 2009, 16:35
" "..Mature and Courageous U-Turn.."... - WHAT A BIG JOKE GONZ!!!!
I know for SURE that yesterday afternoon in the PN Dar Centrali, ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE !!!
An whoever is thinking that only 3 PN members were against , I can say that at least 8 were against !!!
WHY DONT YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR COURAGEOUS U-TURN GONZ ???!!!!
KEEP HAMMERING THEM JOSEPH !!
Mike Magri
Feb 12th 2009, 15:44
"..Mature and Courageous U-Turn.."... MY FOOT.
IT WAS A MUST FOR DR. GONZI TO DO SO.... A DO OR DIE DECISSION....
THE PEOPLE WERE AGAINST THE PROJECT FROM DAY 1....
SOME OF GONZI`S MP`S WERE OPENLY AGAIST IT AND SOME NOT SO OPENLY...
THUS GONZI KNEW VERY WELL THAT IF HE PUT THE MOTION FOR A VOTE, HE WILL BE JEOPARDISING HIS GOVERNMENT`S EXISTENCE FOR SURE....
THEREFORE THE `THROWING OF THE TOWEL`... NO MOTION.. NO VOTE...
THAT`S ALL..
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Feb 12th 2009, 15:16
@ ap Grech
For what you have suggesting to happen it had to be a vote of non-confidence or a vote on a money bill, which neither was the case.
The irony is that it was others including JPO that spoke up against the extension of the Cathedral museum expansion and not Joseph Muscat and the PL.
Charles Sammut
Feb 12th 2009, 15:09
Dr Gonzi lost control of the island long ago with rampant illegal immigration.
He has now also lost control over parliament.
Those who think that he made a smart move by sounding the retreat at the eleventh hour in the face of certain defeat, think again. He has reached rock bottom and still digging furiously. He cannot govern with Damocles' sword dangling over his head by a thread.
The tragedy is not GonziPN being shown the door, but that the alternative is still too horrid to consider.
J Martinelli
Feb 12th 2009, 14:37
U-turn or no U-turn, due process has been scuttled by this announcement by a political figure.
The speculation, whether the project would have in any way damaged the Cathedral, will not end and will never be known, so no lesson can be learned from the interrupted process.
Besides, MEPA has lost its mandate because any time someone is against a project, he can always rely on political intervention to overrule MEPA, the 'autonomous' body given charge to approve or otherwise any application for a construction or renovation project.
While those opposing the St. John project may have been correct, it would have been much wiser to let the process continue until it produced a verdict.
Had the verdict confirmed their fears, then they would have been able to say, "We told you so!"
wally vella-zarb
Feb 12th 2009, 14:37
Prosit Astrid!
Would that this country had more people as dedicated as you are.
maria falzon
Feb 12th 2009, 14:19
A case of flimkien kollox possibli. The people together with Joseph Muscat and the LP and FAA managed to stop the government from bulldozing over them.
lgalea
Feb 12th 2009, 14:17
Jurgen Berlin
You can reserve you doubts as much as you want.
The people have spoken.
That is enough for anyone who questions what the people want.
Mark Anthony Sammut
Feb 12th 2009, 13:54
@Igalea: Gonezipn's stance last week when he said that "I am the Government, I am the Prime Minister" reminds me of Louis XIV, le Roi Soleil, who had said “L’Etat c’est moi”, I am the State.
Utterly non-sensical comment, Gonzi was talking about selecting the EU Commissioner for Malta, and Malta's Head of Delegation in the EU. For such choices he may consult but the final decision is his, the Prime Minister's, whether you like it or not. And his only words were 'I am the Prime Minister, I take decisions', I don't know from where did you invent the 'I am the Government' part. There's no arrogance in that.
Your comment would have been valid if he was refering to things like appointing/changing judges for particular cases or selecting which permits to approve or not, but these type of arrogant and undemocratic choices were taken by previous prime ministers.
Jurgen Berlin
Feb 12th 2009, 13:09
I heard the news that the project for the extension of the St. John’s Co-Cathedral has been withdrawn.
I cannot say if this was a wise decision or not, for the simple reason that I did not manage to see the actual plans and the necessary technical reports pertaining to such a project.
Many of the critics cited that the excavations could damage the foundations of the cathedral by creating fractures in the building itself, with the serious consequences such works would usually cause.
Have these concerns been proven by the competent authorities and the experts in this field or were they only doubts and scare-mongering by certain environmentalists and pseudo experts?
It would be very much appreciative if someone could confirm that this type of danger really existed, by kindly quoting concrete and scientific evidence only and not mere speculative evidence!
Otherwise, I reserve my doubts why all this fuss about this project!
JB.
Joe Grima
Feb 12th 2009, 12:52
This controversy was nothing but an unnecessary and unwanted distraction from the serious issues accompanying us presntly and into the future. The end result shows a sense of duty and national interest by Joseph Muscat who raised the issue in Parliament, the Prime
Minister who was facing a Palace revioution that had to be nipped in the bud and the Archbishop who could not allow the project to go ahaed in the face of such a widespread national outcry. I also liked the way Astrid Vella dealt with the issue. No hysterics- just argument. In the end it was argument, aided and abetted by some internal cosiderations, that won.
I am truly sorry fior Mons Calleja who beleived in the project so much.
lgalea
Feb 12th 2009, 12:41
C.Calleja
"Although I agree that the proposed project has been scrapped, I am surprised that only 1500 signed the petition by FAA."
This is only a small portion of the vast majority of the Maltese people who voiced their opinion against the project.
Gonezipn's stance last week when he said that "I am the Government, I am the Prime Minister" reminds me of Louis XIV, le Roi Soleil, who had said “L’Etat c’est moi”, I am the State.
T Axisa
Feb 12th 2009, 12:37
@C Calleja
And what about those PN parliamentary members who were going to vote in favour of the motion which was going to be presented by the opposition? Forget about the good sense showed by the prime minister, trid tkun il-veru mazzun biex tibla din!!
Joe Galea
Feb 12th 2009, 12:31
@C. Calleja: Keep on fantasising. Gonzi came to a dead end with this project and when he saw that he would have lost majority in the parliament, he retracted as he was afraid of the defeat. However, for once Gonzi took the right decision, i.e. not to follow his plans.
Albert Dimech
Feb 12th 2009, 12:28
@ Astrid
Don't bother about the correction. By now everybody knows the political leanings of FAA committee, yet how able they are to 'use' PL then vote Blue and only Blue.
Edwin formosa
Feb 12th 2009, 12:24
"""The culture of resignations does not exist in Malta!""" Hu minn Dr.Sant. Irrizenja u rega bdielu ghax ried imexxi l-partit ghat -tielet telfa konsekuttiva. Record!
C.Calleja
Feb 12th 2009, 11:43
Although I agree that the proposed project has been scrapped, I am surprised that only 1500 signed the petition by FAA. This is a very poor show which if it had been considered, it would have failed miserably. It was only the good sense showed by the Prime Minister and the Archbishop that stopped the whole project.
Astrid Vella
Feb 12th 2009, 11:22
IMPORTANT CORRECTION:
Contrary to what is stated above, the FAA petition DID NOT "urge MPs to vote against the project and in favour of Labour's motion to withdraw government support" - the petition did not even refer to the motion at any point.
Astrid Vella
FAA
vincent a galea
Feb 12th 2009, 10:55
The culture of resignations does not exist in Malta! Pride and inferiority complexes are to far embedded!!
apgrech
Feb 12th 2009, 10:49
The meeting went something like this:
Gonzi: "My dear friends, I'm respectfully asking you to drop the project because if we don't and a vote is taken in Parliament, I'll be gone for good from my post as a PM".
lgalea
Feb 12th 2009, 10:25
"When contacted, foundation president Mgr Philip Calleja only said that the decision was reached after consultation and that he was "happy with the result".
Sur you are happy Mons. Like the proverbial "Anġlu tal-Vara".
"When asked if he should resign after having spearheaded the project and defended it tooth and nail despite heavy criticism from almost everyone else, he said: "No, no"."
This is called "ARROGANCE", Mons. "ARROGANCE".